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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 1368.PDF
16 Advertisements. FLIGHT HAY 27TH, 1943 An impression of the Theatre, 180 A.D., reconstructed by the artist. THE ROMAN THEATRE AT VERULAMIUM A day in the year 140 A.D. saw the birth of " The Stage " in Britain tentatively. The ' promoters ' dared only to put on a short performance, and even then were a little nervous of its reception. The people of Verulamium (St. Albans) were a vigorous, industrious, pleasure-loving, coarse people, enthusiasts indeed, but for blood-sports, for reality — no play-acting for them. This day, 1800 years ago, was the official opening of the theatre they had watched in construction for seven years. The stage they had seen being built, though merely an adjunct to the arena, had lent substance to the tales they had heard in the forum. They wondered what the world was coming to ... then the bill for the day was posted and confidence returned ... it showed wrestling, bull-fighting, a wild beast hunt, mostly the right stuff. The arena, 80 ft. across, and the for Steelwork in theatres of the future 10 ft. high safety Wall, meant more to them then than the stage. These things augured well. Seating for 1,000 was not nearly sufficient for these first " first- nighters." The theatre flourished for 200 years and during that period was altered three times. The first alterations in 180 A.D. marked the end of the arena shows. People had learned to prefer the drama, so the stage was enlarged and seating accommodation increased, by occupying part of the arena. Subsequent alterations in 200 A.D. and 300 A.D. increased the size of the stage still further, and accommodation was ultimately doubled by removing the arena wall altogether. The remains of this Roman Theatre, which can be seen today, are an interesting and eloquent record of the life and spirit of the times. (Rtpmductd by kind permission of lit Earl »f Vtruhm.) Boulton & Paul Limited STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS NORWICH • BIRMINGHAM • LONDON This advertisement is one of a series which briefly traces, from earliest times, the structural development of the theatre and places of entertainment, according to the "fashion " and requirements of the entertainment demanded.
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